Patent Agent - JMCRS

Job Summary

Tasked with safeguarding the intangible assets of JAX, the Patent Agent – JMCRS will identify, capture, maintain, and protect intellectual property rights. This is a unique opportunity to substantially leverage client and strategic portfolio management skills while building and streamlining IP processes to drive efficiencies. The role is crucial to helping researchers navigate complex intellectual property landscapes and develop strategies to secure and enforce IP rights of The Jackson Laboratory that align with organizational goals and maximize value.

A strong candidate can demonstrate the ability to apply scientific expertise together with commercial and legal considerations to support short- and long-term objectives. Both approachable and proactive with clients. Excellent communicator, comfortable conducting oral presentations. Ability to work independently. Exhibits intellectual curiosity.

Requirements

• Registered to practice before the USPTO.

• At least 3 years of experience as a patent agent, in-house or at an IP law firm, supporting global IP matters related to prosecution (filing and securing patents) in a field(s) related to life science and/or data science.

• Preferred: MS or PhD in life and/or data science.

• Considered: BS in life sciences such as genetics, molecular or cell biology, immunology, cell physiology/biophysics, biochemistry, data, or a comparable life data science field, with at least 4 years applicable prior research and/or product development experience.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Client & Portfolio Strategy

• Strong client interface, collaboration, and strategic portfolio consulting skills. Partner closely with research teams and cross-functionally (e.g., research, business development) to provide strategic, proactive, and practical guidance regarding intellectual property opportunities, strategies, and risk. Present and engaged in technology reviews.

• Support day-to-day IP needs across JAX Mouse Clinical Research Services (JMCRS) across a variety of scientific disciplines. Keep a pulse on workstreams, collaborations, and publications. Strong awareness of timing (when to disclose, file, publish, engage third parties, etc.). Able to identify issues and engage stakeholders when relevant.

• Demonstrated ability in setting IP portfolio strategy and implementing through effective patent drafting and prosecution. Advise and actively manage strategy, drafting, prosecution, and maintenance of patent matters (both directly and with outside counsel). Support regular portfolio review sessions and occasionally prune the portfolio to align with organizational initiatives.

Disclosure, Drafting & Prosecution

• Assist in the review of invention disclosures and patent landscape searches. Able to weigh pros/cons of the various forms of IP protection with organizational goals in light of the overarching landscape. Influence and engage inventors on their support and collaboration in pursuit of the recommended IP protection strategy/approach.

• Collaborate with inventors to gather and provide appropriate guidance on technical details, drawings, and experimental data to deliver optimal patent protection.

• Familiarity with stage-gate, product development processes. Translating IP needs to actionable feedback for product/business development teams. Identify white space, underutilized capabilities, and risks.

Search & Risk Analysis

• Conduct patent searches for prior art, patentability, clearance, and freedom-to-operate analyses, both directly and through management of outside counsel, for new products and support to development teams.

Compliance, Reporting & Culture

• Provide Sponsored Research Administration with patent filing data for annual progress reports, renewal applications, award closeouts, and final invention statements reported in iEdison under the Bayh-Dole Act. Report inventions and patents that have resulted from federally funded research grants/contracts to the funding agency via iEdison.

• Support IP enforcement initiatives and organizational compliance programs to ensure IP rights are respected within JAX and externally.

• Strong attention to detail, organizational, writing, and project management skills.

• Provide educational presentations and other training on IP matters to JAX employees to build an IP savvy culture.

• Reports to the Chief IP Counsel.

• Occasional domestic travel may be required.

Location & Schedule

This is a hybrid position (2–3 days/week), based in Bar Harbor, ME; Farmington, CT; or New York, NY.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $106,020 - $153,729 based on total years of related experience.

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California), Japan and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org​​​​​​​.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.